Landlord-Tenant Law in Towner County, North Dakota
Towner County sits in north-central North Dakota in the heart of the prairie pothole region, a productive agricultural county of rolling terrain, scattered wetlands, and fertile soils. Not to be confused with the city of Towner (which is the county seat of McHenry County), Towner County’s seat is the city of Cando, with approximately 1,100 residents. The county’s population of roughly 2,200 is spread across Cando and several smaller communities including Egeland, Rocklake, and Perth.
Towner County’s economy is built on grain farming — wheat, canola, soybeans, corn, and sunflowers — with the prairie pothole landscape making it one of North America’s premier waterfowl nesting areas. The county’s proximity to the Canadian border (Cavalier County lies to the east, with border crossings nearby) adds a modest cross-border trade dimension. Cando serves as the governmental, educational, and commercial center, with Towner County government, the North Star School District, and the Cando Community Clinic providing the institutional employment that sustains the rental market.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Towner County are governed by NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. Eviction actions are filed at the Towner County District Court in Cando, part of the Northeast Judicial District. No rent control exists. No just-cause eviction requirement applies.
Towner County, North Star School District, Cando Community Clinic, grain elevators & co-ops, agricultural operations
Median HH Income
~$52,000
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
6/10 — small stable market, productive ag base, prairie pothole waterfowl habitat, seasonal hunting demand, full ND landlord protections
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
3-Day Notice to Quit (no cure right)
Month-to-Month
30-Day Written Notice
Court
Towner County District Court (Northeast Judicial District)
Courthouse Address
315 2nd St., Cando, ND 58324
Court Phone
(701) 968-4340
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Filing Fee
~$80
Hearing Set
3–15 days after summons served
Hardship Stay
Up to 5 days (court discretion)
Avg Timeline
2–5 weeks
Attorney Fees
Recoverable by prevailing landlord (§ 47-32-04)
Towner County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
County and municipal rules that apply alongside North Dakota state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No mandatory landlord licensing or rental registration in Towner County or Cando. Code enforcement is complaint-driven.
Rent Control
No rent control. 30 days’ written notice for month-to-month rent increases. No increase during fixed-term lease unless lease permits (NDCC § 47-16-07).
Security Deposit
Cap of one month’s rent (NDCC § 47-16-07.1). Pet deposit up to $2,500 or 2 months. Return within 30 days. Interest if 9+ months. Move-in checklist required.
Landlord Entry
No statutory notice period; reasonable times, legitimate purposes. Emergency entry without notice.
Late Fees
Must be in lease. 3-day grace period (§ 47-16-07(2)). No cap but must be disclosed.
Legal Entities in Eviction
LLCs must use licensed ND attorney (Wetzel v. Schlenvogt, 2005).
2025 Eviction Record Sealing (SB 2238)
7-year sealing after judgment satisfied. Immediate sealing for dismissals. Personal references are the most reliable screening tool in this small market.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement. 30-day notice for month-to-month termination without cause.
NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32 statutes that apply in Towner County
⚡ Quick Overview
3
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
3
Days Notice (Violation)
14-30
Avg Total Days
$$80
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 3-day notice period to stop eviction
Days to Hearing3-15 (hearing set 3-15 days after summons served) days
Days to WritImmediate after judgment (5-day hardship stay possible) days
Total Estimated Timeline14-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-350
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL: North Dakota is very landlord-friendly. 3-day notice for nonpayment after rent is 3 days past due. No cure right beyond the 3-day notice period. Eviction law strictly limits combining eviction with other lease claims. Court issues judgment for immediate restitution if landlord prevails (§ 47-32-04). Hardship exception: if tenant shows immediate removal causes substantial hardship (except for disturbing peace), court may stay writ up to 5 days. Tenant can request case be heard by District Court judge (rather than judicial referee) within 7 days. Security deposit may be applied to unpaid rent/fees by court. NEW (2025): SB 2238 allows tenants to petition for sealing eviction records 7 years after satisfying judgment (no subsequent evictions); DV victims can seal immediately.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the State District Court - Eviction Action (NDCC Ch. 47-32). Pay the filing fee (~$$80).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about North Dakota eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified North Dakota attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Cando (county seat, North Star School District, community clinic), Egeland, Rocklake, Perth. Note: Towner County’s seat is Cando — the city of Towner is in McHenry County. North-central ND. Prairie potholes. Premier waterfowl nesting habitat. Grain agriculture. 3-day pay or quit, no rent control, no just-cause eviction.
Towner County
Screen Before You Sign
Core tenant profiles: Towner County government workers, North Star school district employees, Cando Community Clinic staff, grain elevator and co-op workers, agricultural operators. Personal references carry strong weight. Verify income at 3x rent and run ND District Court eviction records.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Towner County, North Dakota
Towner County is a north-central North Dakota agricultural county where the rental market is small, stable, and sustained by the institutional employment that keeps Cando functioning as a viable county seat. The county’s name causes occasional confusion — the city of Towner is actually the county seat of McHenry County, not Towner County — but the community of Cando has served as Towner County’s governmental center since the county was organized in the late 1800s.
Cando: The County Seat
Cando, with approximately 1,100 residents, is Towner County’s only community of meaningful size. The city maintains the county courthouse, the North Star consolidated school district, a community health clinic, grain elevators, churches, and the small businesses that serve the surrounding agricultural area. County government employment, school district positions, healthcare clinic staff, and grain elevator operations provide the institutional base that sustains the rental market. New teachers and healthcare workers who relocate to Cando represent a regular source of rental demand, as the North Star School District and the clinic recruit staff from across the region.
Prairie Potholes and Waterfowl
Towner County sits in the heart of the prairie pothole region, a landscape of thousands of small glacial wetlands that serve as the primary breeding ground for North American waterfowl. This ecological significance brings USFWS personnel, Ducks Unlimited conservation staff, and wildlife researchers to the area, creating modest employment and housing demand. During fall waterfowl season, hunters from across the Midwest travel to the Towner County area, and some landlords find supplemental income from seasonal hunting accommodations.
Agricultural Economy
Wheat, canola, soybeans, corn, and sunflowers are the primary crops on Towner County’s productive soils. The grain elevators in Cando, Egeland, and Rocklake serve surrounding farm operations. Farm operators who maintain a town residence for school and healthcare access are a stable rental segment. Income documentation follows the standard rural ND pattern.
North Dakota Law in Towner County
Towner County landlords operate under NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. The 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit for nonpayment (after the mandatory 3-day grace period under § 47-16-07(2)), the 3-Day Notice to Quit for lease violations with no cure right, and the 30-Day Written Notice for month-to-month terminations are the operative notice timelines. The Towner County District Court at 315 2nd St. in Cando, part of the Northeast Judicial District, handles eviction filings. Hearings are typically set within 3 to 15 days of summons service. LLCs and other entities must retain licensed North Dakota counsel. Attorney fees are recoverable by the prevailing landlord under § 47-32-04.
Towner County landlord-tenant matters are governed by NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. Nonpayment notice: 3-day pay or quit (after 3-day grace period). Lease violation: 3-day quit (no cure). Month-to-month termination: 30-day written notice. Security deposit cap: 1 month’s rent; pet deposit up to $2,500 or 2 months. Deposit return: 30 days; interest required if occupancy 9+ months. Late fees must be in lease; no charge during 3-day grace period. Legal entities must use licensed ND attorney in eviction. Attorney fees recoverable by prevailing landlord (§ 47-32-04). Hardship stay: up to 5 days. Eviction filed at Towner County District Court, 315 2nd St., Cando, ND 58324, (701) 968-4340. Filing fee ~$80. Northeast Judicial District. 2025 SB 2238: eviction record sealing after 7 years. No rent control. No just-cause eviction requirement. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Towner County, North Dakota and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed North Dakota attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
